He had dreams of pursuing studies in business at the university level, but all that changed when beatmaker and producer Rockit decided to pursue his musical aspirations.

But his journey in music hasn’t been an easy one. There was a time when he felt like giving up and throwing in the towel.

Today, the 22-year-old Spanish Town-based Rockit (real name Kimval Foster) is emerging as a force to be reckoned with in dancehall music circles.

“I got into building beats because I am from a musical family, so it was inevitable for me to become a producer. Mi bredda is an artiste so mi grow inna music,” Rockit disclosed in an interview with the Jamaica Observer recently.

Rockit said he had to endure some trying times musically.

He said on one of his darkest days he found music, which has somewhat turned his life around.

“I had stopped going to school and decided to enter the world of production during the pandemic. It happened that one a di time mi find a old laptop and mi tek a chance and create a beat and there was just no turning back from there,” Rockit shared.

Rockit’s credentials in recent months include Powder by RajahWild, Lumbah by Valiant, and
Carry On by RajajWild. Both Lumbah and Carry On are currently riding the local charts and trending on social media platforms TikTok and YouTube.

Lumbah at last check had racked up more than 2.2 million views on YouTube and ranked at #17 on local YouTube Trending chart. Carry On has 1.6 million views and was positioned at #7.

He said he is not surprised at the response to both tracks.

“Mi nuh really surprised because mi always did a seh suppen ‘bout dem stand out.
Carry On a di first RajahWild go inna da style deh, so mi know it did ago stand out. And
Lumbah, it have a different bounce, like a reggaeton bounce, so mi know dem did ago stand out,” Rockit told the Observer.

He said that networking opportunities put him in contact with some of the artistes for whom he has built beats and produced songs.

“When I started out, I was actually networking. I met RajahWild’s manager and I been a put out work with DJ Mac for over a year now,” he said.

According to Rockit, the first beat he built, formed the basis of a track that featured Jahmiel and Kyodi.

“
Conspiracy was the first and people started reaching out to mi say mi bad and I continued and developed my sound,” said Rockit.

He added: “What defines me is that I’m always creating some different sounds. Music is about creativity. Its all about putting out some good music that will impact the lives of others.”

Originally from Portmore, Rockit (his label is Rockit Muzik) later moved to Spanish Town. He attended Excelsior High and Bridgeport High, where he enrolled in sixth form.

He says keeping up with the latest trends in music is not a priority for him.

“Mi nuh really say follow trends, but me always a try create new sounds. Mi a try create trends, that’s my lane, musically,” said Rockit.

He lists established chart-topping producers, including Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor, Tarik “Rvssian” Johnston, and Bing Quantanium among his musical influences.

“When a production that you’ve worked on takes off it’s a great feeling, ‘cause wi a do dis fi a while and a whole heap a talented yutes out deh. And fi be one a di chosen ones weh get a highlight right now, is a good feeling,” Rockit reasoned.

Rockit’s goal is to one day win a Grammy and to hit the Billboard charts.

“Wi a put een the work yuh nuh to win a Grammy or even to have a song pon di Billboard [charts]. Mi family support weh mi a do, they probably expected me to go to college. But dem see say mi passionate ‘bout music so dem support mi same way,” he said.